Moldova‘s Ruling Party Secures Victory in Parliamentary Election Amidst Russian Interference Allegations
CHIȘINĂU, Moldova – Moldova’s pro-European People’s Action and Solidarity (PAS) party won a parliamentary election Sunday, securing a clear path toward continued EU integration, according to results released Monday. The victory comes as the country alleges a concerted effort by russia to destabilize the election through disinformation, cyberattacks, and attempts to incite unrest.
Alleged Russian schemes included orchestrating a large-scale vote-buying scheme, conducting more than 1,000 cyberattacks on critical government infrastructure so far this year, a plan to incite riots around Sunday’s election, and a sprawling disinformation campaign online.
Election day was marked by incidents including bomb threats at multiple polling stations abroad, cyberattacks on electoral and government infrastructure, voters photographing their ballots, and reports of illegal transportation of voters to polling stations. Three individuals were detained on suspicion of plotting to cause unrest following the vote.
Igor Dodon, a former president and member of the pro-russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, alleged, without providing evidence, that the ruling PAS party meddled with the vote and called for a protest in front of the Parliament building on Monday.Police warned that individuals had been “promised money” to attend the protest and cautioned against participation, stating organizers bear “absolute responsibility” for any illegal actions.
PAS campaigned on a platform of accelerating Moldova’s path to EU membership, aiming to sign an accession treaty with the 27-nation bloc by 2028, alongside pledges to double incomes, modernize infrastructure, and combat corruption.
Cristian Cantir, an associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, described the PAS victory as “a clear win for pro-European forces in Moldova,” enabling continuity in pursuing EU integration.He added that “Moldova will continue to be in a tough geopolitical habitat characterized by Russia’s attempts to pull it back into its sphere of influence.”
Approximately 1.6 million people, representing 52.1% of eligible voters, cast ballots, including 280,000 votes from polling stations abroad, according to the Central Electoral Commission.
